Halloween safety tips: What every parent should know

Halloween is a fall favorite! Your kids probably love getting dressed up and going trick-or-treating. Before their night of spooky fun begins, Karla St. Germain, MD, a pediatrician for Kaiser Permanente in Southern California, shares a few tips to help you keep your kids safe this Halloween.

Halloween safety for kids

Dr. St. Germain says it’s important to keep children up to date on their vaccines.

“Flu and other respiratory virus illnesses spread during the fall and winter. Don’t let sickness spoil trick-or-treating for your children. Get them vaccinated at least 2 weeks before Halloween so the vaccines have time to work,” said Dr. St. Germain.

Halloween candy: To eat or not to eat?

Dr. St. Germain says before kids eat the candy they’ve collected, parents should check candy labels. For kids with serious food allergies, even a small piece of Halloween candy that contains an allergen can be dangerous.

“I would advise against eating treats without labels. That includes any homemade treats your child gets,” said Dr. St. Germain. “Food allergies, to peanuts for example, account for 35% to 50% of all cases of severe allergic reactions. If your child has been prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector, make sure they have it with them at all times.”

5 Halloween safety tips

Here are 5 other trick-or-treating safety tips from Dr. St. Germain to keep your little ghosts and goblins safe this Halloween:

1. Test face paint and makeup: Put a small amount of face paint or makeup on your child’s arm a few days before Halloween. Don’t use it if your child’s arm shows any redness, itching, burning, swelling, or bumps.
2. Choose costumes carefully: Make sure your child’s costume is easy to see. Pick one that is bright or reflective. Get masks with large eye holes so kids can see easily, and costumes that fit well to prevent tripping.
3. Get crafty with pumpkins: Let children draw designs and scoop out seeds, but leave the carving to adults.
4. Prevent fires: Use glow sticks or battery-operated candles in pumpkins instead of real candles.
5. Take care when walking: Give your kids flashlights or glow sticks to help them see in the dark. Put reflective tape on costumes to help drivers see your kids in the dark. Remind kids to stick together, stay on sidewalks, and cross streets at designated corners.

Following these tips can help make Halloween safe and fun for everyone.